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Orbital Syngas Commodity Augmentation Reactor (OSCAR)
Completed
TRL 6 (started at 4, targeting 6)
Description
OSCAR is an Early Career Initiative (
ECI) project at the Kennedy Space Center that studies technology to convert trash and human waste into useful gasses such as methane, hydrogen and carbon dioxide. By processing small pieces of trash in a high-temperature reactor, OSCAR is advancing new and innovative technology for managing waste in space. The technology would reduce the amount of space needed for waste storage within a spacecraft, turn some waste into gasses that have energy storage and life support applications and ensure waste is no longer biologically active.
More information:
NASA Technology Designed to Turn Space Trash into Treasure.
Benefits
• Enabling: Converts space-based trash and human waste into useful gases
• Practical: Reduces the area needed for waste storage on spacecraft
• Sustainable: Generates gases that have energy storage and life support applications
Details
| Technology area | Human Health, Life Support, and Habitation Systems > Environmental Control and Life Support Systems and Habitation Systems > Waste Management |
| Program | Flight Opportunities (FO) |
| Lead organization | Kennedy Space Center, Kennedy Space Center, FL |
| Start date | 2021-03-01 |
| End date | 2024-03-31 |
Project contacts
Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.
How to get involved
This is early/mid-stage (TRL 6) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.
None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.